Researchers Liang-Zhen Wen and Shi-Lin Zhu from the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made significant strides in understanding the behavior of muonic ions and molecules. Their work, published in the journal Physical Review A, focuses on the bound and resonant states of these particles, which have practical implications for the energy sector, particularly in fusion research.
Muonic ions and molecules are systems where one or more electrons are replaced by muons, which are heavier cousins of electrons. In this study, the researchers investigated hydrogen-like muonic ions, such as muonic protium (μmp), muonic deuterium (μmd), and muonic tritium (μmt), as well as three-body muonic molecular ions like ppμ, pdμ, and others. They also examined the four-body double-muonic hydrogen molecule (μμpp).
To achieve their results, Wen and Zhu employed an extended stochastic variational method combined with complex scaling. This approach allowed them to treat bound and quasibound states in a unified manner, achieving an energy accuracy better than 0.1 electron volts (eV) across all systems studied. The researchers obtained complete spectra below the corresponding n=2 atomic thresholds, including several previously unresolved shallow resonances in both three- and four-body sectors.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector lie in the field of nuclear fusion. Muonic atoms and molecules play a crucial role in muon-catalyzed fusion, a process where muons facilitate nuclear fusion at lower temperatures and pressures than traditional fusion methods. By understanding the bound and resonant states of these particles, researchers can develop more efficient and effective fusion reactors. This work provides a more accurate picture of the energy levels and states of muonic systems, which can help optimize the conditions for muon-catalyzed fusion and bring us closer to achieving sustainable and clean energy solutions.
The research was published in Physical Review A, a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to atomic, molecular, and optical physics. This study represents a significant advancement in the field and highlights the potential of muonic systems for future energy applications.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.